Antonio Brizioli: 7 survival tips for bookstores in Italy

In a lengthy opinion piece on Artribune, Antonio Brizioli, founder of Emergenze and Edicola 518 in Perugia, critiques the superficial media coverage of bookstore and newsstand closures in Italy. He argues that most articles lack serious analysis, instead offering lamentations or celebratory stories without explaining the underlying reasons for success. Brizioli outlines seven points for survival: (1) ask for curiosity, not sacrifice—create lively spaces where customers feel part of a social project, not just clients; (2) don't resist, revolutionize—stop trying to compete with Amazon on its terms; (3) educate readers about the economics of independent bookstores, including margins and logistics; (4) hold publishers accountable for their complicity in a distribution system that crushes small players; (5) eliminate intermediaries where possible, fostering direct relationships between publishers and booksellers; (6) online commerce can be human if managed on a human scale; (7) cultivate happiness and passion for the work. He concludes by emphasizing the need to think outside the system to become exemplary and competitive within it.